thrashing
noun
thrash·ing
ˈthra-shiŋ 
plural thrashings
1
: a severe beating or flogging
If a poacher was taken he was given a thrashing as well as being prosecuted with its consequent jail sentence.—
W. Mostyn Thomas
W. Mostyn Thomas"They called her a little blue ragamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in looking very angry. "But I have given it to them. They won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing they will remember."—Anna Sewell
Anna Sewell2
: a dominating defeat of an opponent
… after going 6-5 on a tough road trip that concluded with 9-2 and 12-4 thrashings of the Giants last weekend, they were 57-41 …—Phil Taylor
Phil TaylorExamples of thrashing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In place of her cathartic body thrashing, the musician settles into the discomfort of perception.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
That’s the same Auburn team that just three nights earlier on the same floor laid a 40-point thrashing on South Carolina.
—USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024
One of the migrants died from the thrashings, and another committed suicide.
—Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024
Again the thrashing was not really surprising considering India have been almost invincible at home for the last decade.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Riverdale Ridge is heading to its first-ever championship game thanks to a second-half thrashing of defending runners-up D’Evelyn.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Instead, Bella waddles around her London home thrashing, blabbing, and twirling in elaborate blouses.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
As soon as a fish hits the deck (gently, so as not to bruise the meat) a deckhand dispatches it with a spike to the brain or spinal cord, which kills the fish quickly and reduces thrashing, which can stress the meat.
—Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024
Miami is coming off a 56-19 thrashing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, who clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the win.
—Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
That’s the same Auburn team that just three nights earlier on the same floor laid a 40-point thrashing on South Carolina.
—USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024
One of the migrants died from the thrashings, and another committed suicide.
—Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024
Again the thrashing was not really surprising considering India have been almost invincible at home for the last decade.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Riverdale Ridge is heading to its first-ever championship game thanks to a second-half thrashing of defending runners-up D’Evelyn.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Instead, Bella waddles around her London home thrashing, blabbing, and twirling in elaborate blouses.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
As soon as a fish hits the deck (gently, so as not to bruise the meat) a deckhand dispatches it with a spike to the brain or spinal cord, which kills the fish quickly and reduces thrashing, which can stress the meat.
—Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024
Miami is coming off a 56-19 thrashing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, who clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the win.
—Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thrashing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thrashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrashing. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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